Chapter 31: 31

*Rainelle’s POV

Oh, it's a tail.

The golden, furry tail gently covered my body like a blanket. As I opened my eyes at the soft touch, I felt a warm and moist touch on the tip of my beak.

"...caaw."

As soon as I opened my eyes, the golden wolf gently licked my beak. The golden eyes of the wolf, who was carefully licking only the tip of my beak, were warm and soft.

There were no words that could be heard, but he seemed to be speaking: "It's okay, don't be afraid."

The warm, soft fur wrapped around my body somehow felt reassuring and cozy, so I buried my head in the wolf's arms.

The wolf's arms were soft, warm, and cozy with a pleasant scent. Feeling as if the things that had happened with Luwellin were gradually getting farther away, I buried my face in his arms for a while and took a breath.

Ever since Karmeut hugged me tightly in the form of a wolf, he remained as a wolf except when necessary. He wasn't like me who died and was reincarnated as an animal, but he stubbornly kept using the wolf form even though that seemed impractical.

"Caww-"

While making a small cry, I bit at his golden fur with my beak and pulled it lightly. Then I could feel Karmeut's head movement above me.

With a small woof, Karmeut licked his snout, stuck out his tongue, and waved his tail gently. Then, he laid his face and tapped the inside of his arms with the tip of his snout. It was like he was saying, "You can come here if you want."

At that action, I quickly plunged into Karmeut's arms.

...Oh no, I'm not doing this because he wants me to! It's just because when I was hugged before, the wolf's arms felt so warm and soft! Especially the white fur on the belly--!!

I tried rubbing on white fur. A smile escaped me as I felt the soft sensation between the small sound of feathers and fur rubbing.

Uh, um---. But, can I do this? I like it, but Karmeut might be different...

I raised my head and looked at the wolf. The wolf's head tilted slightly and his eyes were bent as if he was happy. Then he leaned his head closer, stuck out his tongue, and licked the tip of my beak.

I was afraid of turning into a human, and I was afraid when other people approached me, so I was busy hiding when other people other than Karmeut came, but that didn't mean I wasn't listening at all.

I'm not sure but... Bozcourt, was it? There were talks about that...

Is it really okay for Karmeut to take the wolf form? Maybe it's just because of me?

A question arose within me. I wanted to ask Karmeut if I could. However, I could not speak the human language in the form of a crow, and I did not want to change into a human form. No, I was scared. Even though I know that's stupid, how can I do that when my body got rigid thinking about it?

On the other hand, I was grateful. I could feel the warmth in the corner of my heart at Karmeut's actions, who silently transformed into a wolf, protecting me, taking care of me, and who did not say anything about me not changing into a human form.

Can I trust him...?

Did I become sensitive after seeing the video crystal ball and doubted someone I can trust? If that's the case... how am I supposed to act?

My surrounding was quiet, but my mind was a mess.

..Did he realize my worries? The golden wolf made a low, friendly woof and stuck his nose to my chest.

The moist tip of his nose can be felt through my feathers. The golden, vibrant eyes were looking at me with a smile.

There was no sign of impatience in the golden eyes. The gaze seemed to accept the present situation as a happy moment.

...and that was the kind of gaze he had when he gave me a name in the forest and treated me with kindness.

The fact made me feel emotional for no reason. Karmeut hadn't changed. He was still the same person as when he was in the forest, but I was starting to wonder if it was me who had put the distance first.

*knock, knock, knock*

"Your Highness, I have brought you a meal."

The sudden noise made me jump.

It, it's a person!!

I flapped my wings in a hurry and hid above the closet. I struggled to ignore the golden eyes filled with sorrow and just hid myself further in a corner as much as possible.

When I was kidnapped, the men who kidnapped me had come with a servant. That was why I thought there was a chance that could happen again.

How long had I stayed still as I felt my chest tighten?

When I heard a small bark, I poked my head out.

While waving his large, voluminous tail softly and slowly, Karmeut, no, the golden wolf, was looking up at the closet.

I quickly looked around. Seeing my action, Karmeut wagged his tail a little faster as if to urge me while letting out a brief barking sound. ...Fortunately, the servant was nowhere to be seen. Feeling relieved, I let out a sigh, then I spread my wings and went down.

I hovered over Karmeut's head for a moment, then cautiously sat down. I felt the fine and soft fur gently wrapping my feet as I looked at the plates on the table.

The food on the plates was steaming, but there was no sign of him having touched it. I looked at Kamut, thinking, 'so he had called me as soon as the servant left.'

My stomach churned. He tilted his head slightly and looked at me as if he was puzzled. It wasn't that I was about to vomit. Somehow... it felt like my throat was choked and I was getting tired.

"Karmeut."

I opened my mouth again as I looked at the golden eyes which seemed they couldn't believe that I turned into a human.

"I have a question... can you answer me?"

The wolf's figure quickly changed into a human figure.

The feeling of surprise in his eyes did not go away, but Karmeut replied with a soft smile,

"Of course... Is there anything that made you uncomfortable?"

I shook my head at Karmeut's inquiry, but I couldn't help but showed faint anxiety.

Something that makes me uncomfortable, there's no such thing. No, it's strange that he treated me so carefully and kindly. So... so I wanted to ask.

"Why did you tell me you can wait? And why did you keep using the wolf form? It must be uncomfortable."

Karmeut laughed softly at my question. Then he answered in a soft voice,

"Because I didn't want you to change. And... you're still scared, right? I can't ask you to do something you don't like after you've been through something like what had happened."

Karmeut reached out his hand. Even though I knew it wasn't Luwellin, I was surprised and took a step back. His golden eyes showed pain seeing my response.

"...I'm sorry. You must still be scared."

My mind was still wandering. After he said that, Karmeut slightly bowed and his appearance changed again. The wolf, who appeared while showing his golden shiny fur, slightly lowered his head and approached me carefully.

Golden fur brushed against my black feather dress. I hesitated for a moment at the wolf's action, which was to begin circling slowly around me, but soon I reached out my hand

...I can't help it. I really like predators. If there's a wolf in front of me who doesn't show aggression, I want to pet it.

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The golden fur that lightly brushed against my fingertips was very soft. I thought it would be bristle like a wild animal's, but was it because he was from the Imperial Family? Or was it because he wasn't surviving in the wild?

I forgot about my fear as I was focused on the texture of his fur.

I swept his head, ears, nape, and back while enjoying the feel of the fur. Then I came to my senses when the wolf playfully licked my fingers. When I pulled back my hand in surprise, the wolf licked his snout once and pushed his head onto my palm like he was disappointed.

While he let out a small bark, Karmeut closed his eyes and rubbed around as if showing affection...

Yeah, what am I going to hide? It was a very direct blow to me, who even had a job as a zookeeper because I liked animals.

"Cute, cute...!!"

Without even realizing it, I uttered those words while reaching out my hand to tickle his chin. He shook his head as if he was ticklish, but soon after, the wolf raised his head as if asking for more.

I squatted and stroked the soft fur with both hands while smiling happily. The wolf stuck out his tongue and licked me. I burst into laughter at the charming behavior and hugged his neck tightly.  I could smell a familiar scent while burying my face in his soft, fluffy fur along with a warm body temperature. It was the same as when I always felt when I was held in Karmeut's arms.

"...!"

It was then that I realized that the wolf I was holding was Karmeut. As I hurriedly made some distance, the wolf, or Karmeut, let out a low, sad woof as if he was dejected.

In the next moment, the wolf had changed into a human. Karmeut asked me in a low, repressed voice,

"---Do you hate me? Are you upset that I couldn't stop Luwellin from kidnapping you?"

"Tha, that's not it..."

I could confidently say no. Why would I blame Karmeut?

Rather, I'm really thankful that you came to save me!

"You can stay in your original form. No need to overdo it. I'm sorry."

I wasn't dull enough not to know that he was sincere. Somehow feeling the tears that I had never shed before, I buried my head in Karmeut's arms.

I held the hem of his clothes tightly to avoid crying, but I couldn't do that with the gentle patting on my back his. Crying like a child, I let the tears flow.

***

*3rd person POV

"How long will it take until His Highness recovered?"

"...I'm doing my best, but the arm injury is so serious..."

The healer wiped a cold sweat and answered the knight sent by the emperor as if he was making an excuse. The knight nodded and opened his mouth.

"Please do your best to heal the prince. It's not so common for Bozcourt to be postponed."

"Yes, I understand."

Leaving the shaking healer alone, the knight went away. The healer, who looked as if he was nervous, exhaled a long breath when the knight's figure completely disappeared from his sight.

The healer inhaled and exhaled several times. He checked the surrounding to see if there were anyone else around, then he walked back to a certain place with careful steps.

"I’ve returned, Your Highness."

When the healer said that as he opened the door to the lavishly decorated room with a click, a man, who was sitting on the sofa, moved his lips.

"--Damn it. I didn't expect things to go this way."

It was Luwellin who swung a wild swear word with his mouth with a bandaged arm. He was the third prince who took the crow raised by Karmeut without permission and was bitten by a wolf who turned out to be Karmeut.

Looking at Luwellin, who frowned as if annoyed, the healer opened his mouth nervously.

"It cannot be hidden forever. Indeed, Your Highness was seriously injured, but..."

"I know! But the chance of me winning at Bozcourt is low right now, so I need some time to come up with a countermeasure!!"

The healer kept his silence at the prince's words which were said agitatedly while grabbing his head.

What Luwellin said was true. It was Karmeut who bit Luwellin with such force that the bones in his arm were crushed.

He couldn’t win even though he resisted and turned into a wolf at that time, so how about the duel of Bozcourt where no one can interfere? It was no different from asking to be killed.

Wasn’t that why he was buying time by telling lies even though his arm is already healed?

Luwellin, who had been showing his irritation by frowning, exhaled a long breath and waved his hand.

"...Anyway, you did a great job. You can leave now."

He didn’t watch the healer bowing and leaving. Luwellin was troubled. To face Bozcourt like this was suicide.

However, if he refused, it was tantamount to giving up his right to succession.  For the member of the Imperial Family to give up the right to succession, it would be an act of suicide.

Furthermore, hadn’t Luwellin coveted the seat of the throne from the beginning? Leaving alone such an Imperial Family would be the same as having a sore thumb.

Besides, didn't Luwellin kidnap Karmeut's beloved crow? Thanks to that, his arm was shattered.

When he recalled that time, Luwellin gnashed his teeth. He was in a bad mood and became enraged when he thought of Karmeut.

"Damn you, half-blood bastard----!!"

 

*Luwellin’s POV

When did he awaken? How clever of him to hide that fact and pretend to be innocent. Furthermore...

Luwellin stood up. Then he pulled out a book from the large bookshelf by the desk. When he opened a fairly thick book, there were no pages that were laid out neatly, rather, there was a hollow space in the middle. Taking out a crystal ball from that space, the prince put a little magical power into it.

Then, a light came from the crystal ball and it started playing a certain image: a woman with black hair and a dress made of black feathers.

When he saw that woman with white skin that contrasted with black had an innocent smile with blinking beautiful purple eyes, Luwellin clenched his teeth.

"Because of you....!!"

Yeah. It's all the fault of that damn bitch.

She’s beautiful and covetous, but she attached herself to Karmeut. She pretended to be a crow and lied to me! I didn't like her.

Though he thought he didn't like her, Luwellin’s gaze didn't move away from the crystal ball.

"As long as I win the Bozcourt...!!"

Then I will take that girl out of Karmeut's grasp and make her mine. I will make you see how I make you obey and spread your legs whenever I want. So that you can't live without me!

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